NCS The Challenge Team from Harrow and Hillingdon visits Parliament

A team of enthusiastic NCS The Challenge participants from Harrow and Hillingdon made the journey to Parliament for a tour of the House of Commons and House of Lords, before delivering a presentation on the social action projects they have been developing.

NCS The Challenge is a three-week program, focusing on consolidating positive relationships between young people and their communities, across the country. The first week includes outdoor adventure activities, as well as citizenship debates, the second week includes the acquisition of new practical skills in a University setting, and the third week is a Social Action Project.

The visiting participants were in their third week, and as such, had been working hard, developing campaigning and volunteering day plans as part of their Social Action Projects. The campaigning day is intended to raise awareness, and donations, for their social action partner (which is usually a local charity). The volunteering day revolves around a trip to the Social Action Partner in order to undertake pre-planned activities with the service users.

The young people presented very well, taking my Parliamentary team through their plans. Their Social Action Partner is Whitby Dene Care Home, specialising in care for people with Dementia. The young people proposed excellent plans for their days, including a Mini-Olympics for the residents, and the production of creative pieces by members of the public to be gifted to the care home’s residents.

My team greatly enjoyed the young people’s visit, and I sincerely hope that they, and the other team’s across the country, continue to enjoy and learn from their experiences on NCS The Challenge!